An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The nanovoided polymer element may be located at least in part between the first electrode and the second electrode. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids. In some examples, anisotropic voids may be elongated along one or more directions. In some examples, the anisotropic voids are configured so that a polymer wall thickness between neighboring voids is generally uniform. Example devices may include a spatially addressable electroactive device, such as an actuator or a sensor, and/or may include an optical element. A nanovoided polymer layer may include one or more polymer components, such as an electroactive polymer.

A form birefringent optical element includes a structured layer and a dielectric environment disposed over the structured layer. At least one of the structured layer and the dielectric environment includes a nanovoided polymer, the nanovoided polymer having a first refractive index in an unactuated state and a second refractive index different than the first refractive index in an actuated state. Actuation of the nanovoided polymer can be used to reversibly control the form birefringence of the optical element. Various other apparatuses, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.

An optical element includes a nanovoided polymer layer having a first refractive index in an unactuated state and a second refractive index different than the first refractive index in an actuated state. Compression or expansion of the nanovoided polymer layer, for instance, can be used to reversibly control the size and shape of the nanovoids within the polymer layer and hence tune its refractive index over a range of values, e.g., during operation of the optical element. Various other apparatuses, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.

Examples include a device including a nanovoided polymer element having a first surface and a second surface, a first plurality of electrodes disposed on the first surface, a second plurality of electrodes disposed on the second surface, and a control circuit configured to apply an electrical potential between one or more of the first plurality of electrodes and one or more of the second plurality of electrodes to induce a physical deformation of the nanovoided polymer element.

An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, which may be located at least in part between the electrodes. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids, including a gas, and separated from each other by polymer walls. The device may be an electroactive device, such as an actuator having a response time for a transition between actuation states. The gas may have a characteristic diffusion time (e.g., to diffuse half the mean wall thickness through the polymer walls) that is less than the response time. The nanovoids may be sufficiently small (e.g., below 1 micron in diameter or an analogous dimension), and/or the polymer walls may be sufficiently thin, such that the gas interchange between gas in the voids and gas absorbed by the polymer walls may occur faster than the response time, and in some examples, effectively instantaneously.

A digitally produced heat transfer can be manufactured by digitally printing an image onto the protective coating that is receptive to ink and/or toner to form a printed area and an unprinted area of the protective coating, and digitally printing an attractant precisely onto the printed area and not onto the unprinted area. An adhesive powder can be applied onto the printed area and the unprinted area. The adhesive powder can then be removed from the unprinted area and the remaining adhesive powder can be bonded to the printed area. A digitally produced heat transfer can include a protective coating that is receptive to ink and/or toner, a digital image printed onto the protective coating to form a printed area and an unprinted area of the protective coating, an attractant digitally printed precisely onto the printed area, and an adhesive powder applied onto the attractant.

Provided is a method for producing a heat sink that can easily and effectively form a heat radiating film on the surface of a substrate without requiring enormous heat energy for increasing the temperature of the substrate. The method is a method for producing a heat sink having a substrate and a heat radiating film formed on the surface of the substrate, including a first step of casting a substrate by injecting molten metal into a cavity of molding dies; and a second step of applying a heat radiating coating to the substrate through spraying or dropping in the period from when the molding dies are opened after the casting until when the temperature of the substrate that has been cast becomes lower than the deposition temperature that is a temperature necessary to deposit the heat radiating coating on the substrate.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to components having an optical element that imparts structural color to the component or article. The present disclosure is also directed to articles of manufacture including the component having an optical element, and methods for making components and articles having an optical element that imparts structural color.

Non-conductive substrates, especially the sidewalls of micro/nano holes thereof are chemically modified (i.e., chemically grafted) by reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The rGO possesses excellent electrical conductivity and therefore the modified substrates become conductive, so that it can be directly electroplated. These rGO-grafted holes can pass thermal shock reliability test after electroplating. The rGO grafting process possesses many advantages, such as a short process time, no complex agent (i.e., no chelator), no toxic agents (i.e., formaldehyde for electroless Cu deposition). It is employed in an aqueous solution instead of an organic solvent, and therefore is environmentally friendly and beneficial for industrial production.

To provide: a transparent conductive substrate containing silver nanowires and having excellent optical characteristics, electrical characteristics and light resistance; and a method for producing the same. A transparent conductive substrate characterized by comprising: a substrate; a transparent conductive film formed on at least one principal surface of the substrate, and containing a binder resin and conductive fibers; and a protective film formed on the transparent conductive film, wherein the thermal decomposition starting temperature of the binder resin is 210 C. or higher, and the protective film is a thermal-cured film obtained using a thermosetting resin.